ABSTRACT
Coaching based on psychodynamics implies a number of non-trivial assumptions regarding the client and the understanding of the client’s mind, as well as the practical characteristics of the coach’s task. Psychodynamic coaching distinguishes itself from other coaching approaches through the assumption that the unconscious exists and is represented in unconscious thoughts and feelings, and that emotional experiences, conscious as well as unconscious, are significant in that they influence our thoughts and actions. The coach may use transference and countertransference phenomena to decipher these patterns and to support the client in developing greater self-awareness and lessening dysfunctional reactions. One of the “leitmotifs” of coaching is the client developing an empathic relationship with them; clients must learn to live with their personal weaknesses and to be kind to them. When the client enters into a coaching agreement, as part of the contracting phase, clarification on these assumptions and working concepts is essential.
